Real Sociedad vs Ajax Preview: Team News & Prediction

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High-flying Ajax have been both the best attacking and defensive side in the Europa League this season, as they look to continue their unbeaten run against a Real Sociedad outfit who are in need of the points.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 28th November, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – CBS Sports Network

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Key Stats

This is the first UEFA competition match between these two teams.
Real Sociedad won their previous two UEFA competition matches at home against Dutch teams without conceding a goal; 1-0 vs AZ Alkmaar (2021/22 Europa League group stage) and 3-0 vs PSV (2022/23 Europa League group stage).
Real Sociedad are unbeaten in their previous four UEFA competition matches against Dutch teams (W2 D2).
Real Sociedad have won only one of their last eight UEFA competition matches (D3 L4).
Ajax are unbeaten in their last 16 matches in all competitions (W13 D3).
Ajax have won eight of their previous ten UEFA competition matches this season (D1 L1).
Ajax have won four and drawn one of their five UEFA competition matches away from home this season.
Ajax have won only two of their last 12 UEFA competition matches away from home against Spanish teams (D2 L8).
Ajax have kept four clean sheets in their last five UEFA competition matches.
Ajax have scored three or more goals in five of their last six UEFA competition matches.

Real Sociedad vs Ajax Prediction

Having impressed in the Champions League last season, Real Sociedad were expected to be one of the top performers in the inaugural league phase of the Europa League, but it has not panned out what way with Imanol Alguacil's side having won just one of their four games.

Surprise defeats at home to Anderlecht and most recently at Viktoria Plzen has left them outside the play-off places heading into Matchday 5, with their only success in Europe this season having come against struggling Maccabi Tel Aviv on Matchday 3.

A surprise win over La Liga leaders Barcelona a couple of weeks ago gave hope that they might be turning a corner, but they failed to follow that up over the weekend as they lost 1-0 in a Basque derby with bitter rivals Athletic Bilbao.

Contrastingly, Ajax have been one of the most eye-catching teams in the league phase and have collected ten points from a possible 12 so far, with the 13 goals scored and just one conceded. Heading into Matchday 5, Francesco Farioli's men boast the best offensive and defensive records in the Europa League.

The Dutch outfit are performing well on all fronts with their last defeat coming in an Eredivisie contest with NAC Breda in August. Since then, Farioli's side have put together a 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Real Sociedad's need is greater here, and they have shown some signs of life lately, but this is another tough assignment for them against one of the best teams in the competition. Ajax will be in no mood to see their unbeaten run come to an end, and they can be fancied to take the three points in San Sebastian.

Real Sociedad vs Ajax Tip: Ajax to win